Belly bands or Sleeves are an attractive addition to your off-the-shelf packaging or product. They provide a functional means of securing your product while giving you a prime branding opportunity and the chance to communicate your message. Belly bands can be used to secure books, magazines
and folders, but they’re also often used to wrap stationery such as wedding invitations, bundled notebooks, iPad folios and even clothing items like socks, scarves or promotional golf shirts.
Branding solutions
There are various types of branding and printing solutions available each with its own benefits. Below are the 14 most common branding solutions to choose from.
Belly Bands or sleeves
Debossing
Debossing is produced by pressing a metal die in the shape of a logo or design into the surface of a product using both heat and pressure, creating a permanent stamped impression below the product’s surface which you can choose to leave the debossed area untouched or fill it in with ink or foil stamping.
Debossing is the opposite of embossing which causes a raised image. The process of debossing uses more pressure to indent your design and is best for thicker materials such as leather and suede, or vinyl and rubber (a cheaper alternative). This method also works well on cotton, polyester, fleece and
polar fleece fabrics. It is an extremely upscale look and a fresh alternative to traditional decorating techniques.
Digital Printing
Direct digital printing is a technique where a digital print is printed onto a special transfer paper and the product that is being branded is treated with a chemical. The logo is then applied and the transfer paper is then placed onto the product, transferring the ink from the paper directly onto the product. This makes it ideal and cost-effective for small runs as the setup is quick and easy.
Direct to Product Printing
Direct-to-Product (DTP) printing is the highly efficient process of printing full colour images and text directly onto corporate gifts or promotional merchandise. From water bottles, bags and USBs, to yoga blocks, bottle openers and notebooks, direct-to-product printing could be the answer you are looking for when it comes to custom-branding.
The ability to print directly onto containers and change designs on-the-fly is a powerful tool. It gives brands the ability to meet consumers’ demands for greater choice and allows them to customise product design and messaging and implement creative marketing campaigns.
Domed Stickers
It is a digital vinyl sticker that has polyurethane resin applied on top of the vinyl sticker to create a domed or 3D appearance. The first layer is the label material. The material can be any print-industry recognized label material (from paper to many forms of plastic).The second layer is the ink. The label can be multiple colors, photo-quality graphics, or simple text. The ink is applied using screen or
digital print technology.
After the ink has cured (dried), the labels are laser- or die-cut and the waste material between labels removed from the press sheet. The liquid polyurethane material is then applied to the labels on the press sheet and left to cure.
Direct to Product Printing
Direct-to-Product (DTP) printing is the highly efficient process of printing full colour images and text directly onto corporate gifts or promotional merchandise. From water bottles, bags and USBs, to yoga blocks, bottle openers and notebooks, direct-to-product printing could be the answer you are looking for when it comes to custom-branding.
The ability to print directly onto containers and change designs on-the-fly is a powerful tool. It gives brands the ability to meet consumers’ demands for greater choice and allows them to customise product design and messaging and implement creative marketing campaigns.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a design stitched onto a material through the use of a high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machine. Artwork must first be “digitised,” which is the specialised process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or thread. The digitiser must actually re-create the artwork using stitches. Then it programs the sewing machine to sew a specific type of design, in a
specific colour, with a specific type of stitch. This is the process known as digitising. Embroidery is most commonly used on logo patches, apparel, caps or hats.
Foil Hot Stamping
Foil stamping is a process that uses metal dies, heat and pressure, to apply foil films. Almost all print media that is meant to be special in one way or another will probably benefit from foiling. Used to create a range of decorative products. It is also used on artwork, wedding invitations, greeting cards, can also be used for genuine or imitation leather and much more.
Heat Transfer Printing
Heat transfer printing is the process of applying heat transfer materials to various items (i.e., substrates) with a heat press. Heat-applied materials contain a heat-sensitive adhesive on one side; when heat is applied by a heat press to the material, the material adheres to the substrate, resulting in a decorated garment.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is the process of permanently marking the surface of an item with a very high-intensity light source. Lasers are divided into 2 main categories: CO2 lasers, which cut and mark organic items (cork, wood, glass, plastic and leather), and YAG lasers, which are used for marking metals. Laser engraving is most commonly used on gifting products.
Laser Etching on Clothing
Laser Etching does not add colour to the fabric. The technology is an exciting option for decorating your corporate logo on apparel or blankets. Laser Etching is the ability to gently shave/burn away a surface area of fabric producing a “tone on tone” debossed type decoration
Pad Printing
Pad printing, is a process whereby an etched plate is covered with ink and then wiped clean, leaving ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then pressed against the plate, pulling the ink out of the recesses, and pressing it directly onto the product. Pad printing is most commonly used on gifting products.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the process of transferring a stencilled design onto a flat surface using a mesh screen, ink and a squeegee.
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation printing is a popular technique for transferring full-colour images onto plastic substrate items and apparel. Sublimation printing and heat transfer are both transfer printing methods that involve similar steps, but the end effects are very different. Both printing techniques involve printing an image onto transfer paper, and then applying heat and pressure. However, in sublimation printing, the inks permeate and become part of the print media. In heat transfer, on the other hand, the image simply becomes an additional layer on top of the print
media.
Vinyl Stickers
Vinyl stickers or vinyl decals are cut from a solid sheet of vinyl in whatever shape or print is desired. The solid vinyl is similar to sticky back plastic but is much stronger. Because the vinyl stickers are cut out from the sheets, there is no background. This means that they are applied to whatever background you choose – the most suitable surfaces being hard, non-porous ones. You can use them on windows, walls, cars, tiled surfaces, plastic surfaces etc. When it comes to custom vinyl stickers there are very few limitations – almost anything can be created using vinyl sticker printing